Alleged N750m polymer notes scam: EFCC clears Soludo

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has cleared the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Charles Chukwuma Soludo of any involvement in the N750 million Polymer notes scam allegation against the former CBN boss.

The Commission’s Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, at a press briefing in Abuja said, ” after investigating Soludo, the commission did not find him incriminated in any way and had to clear him of any wrongdoing.”

Lamorde said: “We invited Charles Soludo in respect of the printing of currency notes. From the investigation conducted, we did not find anything Soludo was involved in. Our partners from UK wanted certain information. So, Soludo has been exonerated.”

When contacted, Soludo said, “I am impressed by the professionalism of the Commission especially in making the result of its investigation public. In early November last year, I wrote to the Commission demanding for the outcome of the investigation, and it replied stating that its investigation did not establish any culpability on my part. I simply put the letter in my file.

“Well, I always knew that there was nothing to it as far as I was concerned, and I did not know anything about the said allegations. What impresses me is that the Chairman and the Commission have displayed professional integrity by making its findings public especially in the light of the negative publicity that attended my invitation and interview at the Commission in January 2013. I left office six years ago, and I believe that this is good for Nigeria.”

On the alleged presidential directive to arrest APC chieftains, the EFCC chairman told journalists that the commission had been neutral since the campaigns began, adding that the EFCC would not be dragged into politics barely few days to the polls.

He said, “They said there was an order to arrest the leadership of the party. We do not want to get involved in any political discussion. We have tried to remain neutral since the campaigns started. Let us do the last lap peacefully.

“Corruption has become an issue in this political campaign. We cannot stop people from talking. The irony of it is that, some of them talking about corruption are standing trial. They are busy playing to the gallery. It is unfortunate. They do not see themselves first.

“Some of them have no business taking about corruption. They are corruption personified. We want to remind them that they still have their day in court.

“I like to sound a note of warning here that the Commission will no longer tolerate people dropping its name to further their political ends.